Judge Keith Spaeth of Butler County Common Pleas Court heard closing arguments Thursday in the bench portion of the trial of Mark Blankenburg.

The jury deliberated for eight hours before deciding 5 p.m. at to break for the night on sex charges against the 53-year-old doctor, including those made by three of four male accusers who allege the doctor molested them when they were patients.

He is accused of bribing accusers with money and prescription drugs, and the judge said he will issue his ruling on those charges in a matter of days.

Jurors resumed their deliberations Friday at 8 a.m., and Spaeth heard arguments from both sets of attorneys related to a jury request.

The jury sent word that they wished to view videotapes entered into evidence during a detective's testimony but never shown in court, but the judge sided with defense attorneys in blocking them from watching the videos.

Prosecutors conceded they had no idea what was recorded on the tapes, which were seized last year during a police search of Blankenburg's home.

Spaeth said he could find no case law to support the state's argument that jurors should be permitted to watch the tapes.

Defense attorneys have said throughout the trial that Blankenburg's accusers are guilty of extortion.

They urged the judge during closing arguments to acquit Blankenburg on many of the charges, saying the state failed to meet the minimum standard of proof required by the statutes.

They raised the same concerns after the state rested its case, but Spaeth declined to do so at that time.

Blankenburg's twin brother, who faces similar sex charges, is scheduled for trial in April.

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